Trailer Hitch with Higher Towing Capacity for 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid

Question:

This might be a stupid question but I am looking for a hitch for my 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. Everything I find that is compatible with the hybrid is a class III. The maximum trailer weight for my vehicle is 1500 lbs. The max for class III from what I understand is well over that. Is there a class II for my vehicle? Am I just missing something? To me it doesnt make sense to have a higher class towing hitch then what the car itself can handle! Also, will the difference in weight of the hitch itself, alone on the car not in use highly effect the gas millage? That was one of my concerns of using a class III vs class II since the hitch itself will weight more.

asked by: Tricia

Expert Reply:

Having a higher rated trailer hitch for your 2020 Ford Escape than what you'd end up needing won't negatively affect anything. The Curt Hitch part # C23FR is a fit for your 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid and would be a great solution even though it has more weight capacity than you'd need. What ends up happening is that the trailer hitch manufacturers design the hitch to fit the vehicle and then reinforce it to be as strong as possible and then independently rate it away from the vehicle it fits which is why they end up with different capacities.

This hitch weighs 32 lbs and does not count against the towing capacity of the vehicle.

Then for trailer wiring the Tekonsha kit part # TE54FR is the easiest to install and most reliable option.

If you wanted to do some towing you might be interested in etrailer ball mount kit # 989900. It comes with 2 ball mounts; one with a 3/4 inch rise or 2 inch drop and one with a 2-3/4 inch rise or 4 inch drop. It also includes a 1-7/8 inch ball, 2 inch ball, hitch pin with clip, and a storage bag.

If the ball mount kit does not include a ball mount with the right rise or drop to tow the trailer level, check out the link I have included that explains how to measure to choose a ball mount to tow the trailer level.